Voltage-regulator mechanism



' F. H. PATTEN. VOLTAGE REGULATOR MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 0:031. 1918.

1 435,25 1, Patented Nov. 14, 1922 fig! WITNESSES: INVENTOR fiG/YC/S/X @2760.

Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANCIS H. PATTEN, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T WESTING- H OUSE ELECTRIC & IANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

VOLTAGE-REGULATOR MECHANISM.

lpplication filed December 31, 1918. Serial No. 269,148.

TomZZw/w'm, it may Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. PA'I'I'EN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident ofw'Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usetul Improvement in Voltageliegulator Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to voltage-regulator mechanisms and particularly to mechanisms for vibrating the contact members of voltage regulators in a manner to prevent a freezing or a sticking action between them.

@ne object a of my I invention is to provide 16 an -eccentrically-mounted mechanism that shall vibrate the main-contact members of a voltage regulatorin a manner to prevent a sticking action of the contact members and be substantially free from the wearing ac- 20 tion which is encounteredin the cam-operated ltype of regulators now in service.

. In many types of electrical apparatus,

delicately mounted contact members are v1- brated to perform certain functions and 26 freezing or sticking of the contact'members will generallydestroy the operativeness of the apparatus associated with the contact members. Thus, "in .a voltage regulator for governing the-operationof a generator in so an automobile-lighting system, an electromagnet, which is energized in accordance with the voltage :generated, is provided for selectively operating a pair of contact members to control the'excitation of: the genera- 86 tor. The contact members are delicately adjusted and,-in oase ofany stickingaction between them, the operativenessof'the regu- =lator is destroyed. In theipast, .it'has been customary to constantly agitate -or vibrate 40 the contact "members of a regulator by means :of a constantly-rotating cam member and thus prevent the sticking of 'the contact members. However, such-a means for preventing sticking of the contact mem- 'bershas been found faulty in'some respects, bymeason of'the 'wearing action on the cam member which, in time, destroysthe adjustment or the openativeness of the regulator.

In-a voltage regulator constructed in acso cordance with my invention, a roller or ballbearing mechanism is mounted on a constantly rotating eccentric member, and one of the main contact members of the regulator is 'mountedupon'the'outer race member of the roller bearing. Moreover, the

outer race member of the roller bearing is resiliently so restrained from rotative movement that the contact members are constantly subjected to a vibratory action which prevents a sticking action between them.

It should be noted that, when one of the contact members of a voltage regulator is mounted on theouter race member of a roller bearing, in the manner above set forth, the contact members are subjected to a much greater wiping action than is possible in a regulator having the contact members vibrated solely by means of a cam member. Thus, when the contact members are agitated by a cam member, a vibratory action ofthe-contact members is effected substantially in only one direction, namely, in a direction perpendicular tothe contact surface, and practically no wiping action between the contact members is obtained. However, when the contact members are agitated by an eccentrically-mounted roller-bearing mechanism, the contact members are not only subjected to a vibratory action in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface but also to an equal amount of wipe ing action in a direction parallel to the contact surface.

In theaccompanying drawing, Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of a voltage-regulator systemembodyingmy invention, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the means for preventing-a sticking or a freezing of the main contact members of the regulator.

Referring to the drawing, a generator 1, comprisingan armature 2 and a field winding 3, is-connected in series with a storage battery 4 and is adapted to supply energy for operating the lights or the ignition system of an automobile and for recharging the battery 4. The excitation of the generator 1 and, accordingly, the voltage enerated thereby, is controlled by means 0? an electromagnet 5, which selectively short-circuits a resistor G'that is connected in series with the field winding 3.

'An energizing winding 7 for the electromagnet 5 is connected in series with a resistor 8, which is composed of a so-called advance wire, across the terminals of the armature 2 and, accordingly, is energized in accordance withthe voltagegenerated. An armature 9 is 'pivotally mounted upon the "frame 10 of'the electromagnet and is provided with a main contact member 11. The armature 9 is maintained in a retracted position by means of a spring member 12, which is connected to it and which engages a stationary supporting member 13.

A contact member let, which co-operates with the contact member 11, is mounted upon the outer race member 15 of a roller bearing The inner race member for the roller bearing, which is separated from the outer race member by the ball or roller members 18, is eccentrically mounted upon a constantly-rotating shaft 19. The constantly-rotating shaft 19 may be driven by any suitable source of power and is preferably directly connected to the armature 2 of the generator 1. A. resilient member 20, which is connected to the stationary supporting member 13, is attached to the outer race member 15 in a manner to prevent the race member having a motion of rotation but to permit such movement of the outer race member that the contact member 14; may effect a vibrator y action perpendicular and parallel to the contact surface between the members 1.1 and 1%.

Inasmuch as my invention is directed particularly to the mounting and the operation of the main contact members and,.as the regulator illustrated is well known, the operation of the regulator will be described only briefly. The resistor 65, which is in series with the field winding 8, is short-circuited by the engagement of the contact members 11 and 1a. Consequently, upon an increase in voltage above normal value in the lighting system of an automobile, the electromagnet 5 is energized to attract the armature 9 and open the short circuit around the resistor 6. Thus, the excitation of the generator 1 is reduced and, accordingly, a reduction is effected in the voltage which is supplied thereby. In case the voltage of the generator is reduced below normal value, the armature 9 is released to close the contact .men'ibers 11 and 14 and, consequently, short circuit the resistor 6 to increase tne excitation of the generator 1. in practical operation of the regulator, the above operations take place in a rapid and intermittent manner such that the armature 9 is constantly vibrated but at different rates, according to the voltage which is generated by the machine 1.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawing," it will be noted that the contact member 14, which is mounted upon the outer race member 15 of the roller bearing 16, is moved in a direction perpendicular to the contact surface between the contact members 11 and 14: for each rotation of the shaft 19, a distance equal to twice the distance between the center of the inner race member 17 and the center of rotation of the shaft 19. Moreover, the contact member 14: will be moved an equal distance in a direction parallel to the surface of contact for each revolution of the shaft 19. By reason of the wiping movement of the contact member 14 relative to the contact member 11, it is readily seen that a sticking or freezing action of the contact members is prevented.

Modifications in the system and in the arrangement and location of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention, and such modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a regulator, a pair of contact members, an electromagnet for effecting operation of contact members, and means for vibrating said pair of contact members in a direction perpendicular to the surface of contact and for vibrating one of the members in a direction parallel to the sur face of contact. 1

2. In a regulator, a pair of contact members, and means for vibrating said pair of contact members in a direction perpendicular to the surface of contact and for vibrating said members relatively to each other an equal amount in a direction parallel to the surface of contact.

lin a regulator, a pair of contact members, an electromagnet for operating the contact members, and means for jointly vibrating the two contact members in a direction perpendicular to the surface of contact of the member and for vibrating'one of the contact members an equal amount in a direction parallel to the surface of contact.

l. 111 a regulator, a pair of contact members, an electromagnet for controllingthe engagement of said. members, and means comprising an eccentrically mounted roller bearing for operating the contact members while in engagement to prevent a sticking action between them.

: 5. in a regulator, a pair of contact memhere, an electromagnet for controlling the opening of said members, and means comprising a rotating eccentric member and Ya ring member mounted thereon for vibrating the contact members to prevent a freezing or sticking action between them by vibrating them whenever the contact members are in engagement. i

6. In a regulator, a pair of contact memhere, an electromagnet for controlling the opening of the contact members, resilient means for biasing said contact members to a closed position, and means comprising a roller bearing for effecting substantial Vibration of one of said contact members in two different planes to prevent a freezing or a sticking action between the contact members.

7. In a regulator, a pair of main contact members, an electromagnet for controlling the opening of saidcontact members, and a contact members to effect substantial vibration of them jointly and relatively to each other.

8. In a regulator, the combination with an electromagnet having an armature controlled thereby, and a contact member mounted on the armature, of a rotating shaft having an eccentric member mounted thereon, a roller bearing mounted on the eccentric member, and a contact member mounted on the outer race member of the roller bearing and co-operating with the armature contact member.

9. In a regulator, a pair of contact members, an electromagnet for governing said contact members, and means comprising an eccentrically mounted ring member for vibrating said contact members while in engagement with each other so as to prevent a sticking action between them.

10. In a regulator, a pair of contact members normally biased to a closed position, an electromaguet for governing the engagement of said contact members, a constantly rotating eccentric member, a roller bearing mounted on said eccentric member for operating said contact members to prevent a sticking action between them by operating said contact members while in engagement with each other.

11. In a regulator, a pair of contact members, a resilient member for normally biasing said members into engagement with each other, an eccentrically mounted roller bearing for supporting one of said contact members, a resilient member for preventing a rotative movement by the outer race member of the bearing, and an electromagnet for controlling the operation of the contact members.

12. In a regulator, a pair of contact members, an electromagnet for governing the operation of the contact members, a constantly rotating eccentric member, a roller bearing mounted on said eccentric member and having one of said contact members located on the outer race member thereof, and

a resilient member for preventing a rotative movement by the outer race member of the roller bearing.

13. In a regulator, an electromagnet having a pivotally mounted armature, a contact member mounted on said armature, a constantly rotating eccentric member, a roller bearing mounted on the eccentric member, a second contact member mounted on the outer race member of the roller bearing, and a resilient member connected to said armature for normally biasing the armature to connect the two contact memhers.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of Dec. 1.918.

FRANCIS H. PATTEN. 

